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It’s no secret that the Hass avocado is the darling of the world. More than 50 years ago, California growers began planting the variety and Mexico followed suit as it eyed the U.S. market, as did Peru and Chile. Colombia began adding Hass acreage to its prodigious supply of native avocados about a decade ago, and it is now also trying to gain access to the lucrative U.S. marketplace.

But is the Hass avocado really the only avocado that consumers will eat?

Tom BellamoreIn fact, Florida does grow and market its thin-skinned, large green fruit with some success. And at this time of year, some California shippers do have alternate varieties and have experienced good success.

California Avocado Commission President Tom Bellamore believes alternative varieties may offer at least a niche market for California growers as they continue to compete against the growing tide of Hass avocados from various sources.

While California growers argue that their Hass avocado is better during much of their season in the late spring to early fall vs. fruit that travels to the United States from thousands of miles away, no such argument is needed with the other varieties.

Currently only the Hass variety can be imported from Mexico or the other countries.

Bellamore said there is very little worry that a California avocado of the Reed variety, for example, will face direct competition of the same variety from foreign soil. He said CAC board members, as well as others in the industry, are discussing opportunities with other varieties and the concept has some strong advocates.

Bellamore said California is already attempting to distinguish its avocados to discriminating customers by touting its freshness and local appeal, especially to U.S. consumers in the West.

He said adding varieties would expand the portfolio — because they are often harvested at a different time of the year — and also add some year-round marketing punch to the California avocado brand.

“From a marketing perspective, it would be very advantageous to be able to continue talking to consumers all year round about our brand,” he said. “Right now it is very difficult to do that because we don’t have avocados all year round.”

A few shippers are already experiencing success with these “off” varieties.

Jared Bray who handles sales for Stehly Farms Organic in Valley Center, CA, said his packingshed does very well with five different avocado varieties: Zutanos, Bacons, Fuertes, Reeds and Pinkertons.

“It’s a very nice niche for us,” he said. “We actually have a huge following for our Reed avocados.”

Though there are not accurate numbers concerning the total California production of these “off” varieties, some estimate that it could be as high as 5 percent of total volume at this point. This year, that could represent as much as 25 million pounds. Currently much of that production ends up in farmers markets.

Stehly is a producer of organic avocados and Bray said much of the company’s production of organic Reed avocados is sold to Whole Foods, which apparently is very happy with that variety. Bray said it grows larger than the typical Hass with some of the fruit getting as large as two pounds.

“It is my favorite avocado,” he said. “It is nutty and buttery.”

Stehly leaves its Reed variety avocados on the tree as long as possible and tries to market them in the September-through-November time frame, which is at the back end of the California deal.

“By then the oil content is very good and it is just a great piece of fruit,” he said. “I could absolutely ship more if I had them.”

And he added that he always gets a premium for that fruit. He said the other varieties also do well, but the Reed is the real star.

Singing the same tune was Bob Lucy, a partner at Del Rey Avocado Co. in Fallbrook, CA.

“The non-Hass varieties are a very important part of our program,” he said.

Del Rey sells both organic and conventional avocados, and Lucy said the organic production of Reeds is also sold mostly to Whole Foods. But he also has conventional production, which sells for a premium to other retailers predominantly on the West Coast, but there is interest everywhere.

Lucy called the Reed “a big Florida-looking avocado with a pulp that doesn’t quite get as green as the Hass.”

He said the Reed variety has been around for a while but his firm, as well as others, did it a disservice by initially picking it too early.

“We picked it way too early and it didn’t do well,” said Lucy. “Now we keep it on the tree until at least late June and market it in July and August, and it does very well.”

Lucy is quick to say that it has its flaws, including the yellow pulp color that needs to be blended with a Hass for the right guacamole colors. But he said it does offer a niche opportunity for California growers fighting for market share and better pricing.

In fact, Del Rey has made a commitment to that variety, as well as other “off” varieties, by investing in its own nursery to grow root stock.

“One-third of the acreage in that nursery is devoted to Reed,” he said.

Rob Wedin, who is in charge of fresh sales for Calavo Growers in Santa Paula, CA, believes in the concept of expanding California’s variety diversity, but he doesn’t believe the state’s growers have found the right variety yet.

Wedin said most California growers have converted their acreage of Reeds and Fuertes and other varieties to Hass simply because of the economics.

“All other varieties are extremely minor and I don’t really see much opportunity, but I know people are working on some new things and we’d like to see that,” he said. “I just don’t think it is anything we already have.”

He was quick to point out that he does not put the Lamb Hass in that category.

The Lamb Hass is different than the regular Hass, as it has a slightly smoother skin and does tend to grow larger in the early part of the season. But by late June and into July, it behaves like a Hass and is marketed as such.

During the middle of the season, Wedin said the Lamb Hass can account for as much as 15 percent of Calavo’s volume during that period. But again it is largely marketed as a Hass avocado and doesn’t seem to qualify for “off” variety status.

Bellamore said he would like to see more growers add small acreage of the Reed variety precisely to expand the marketing opportunities for growers and the commission.

He said it will take several years to ramp up the volume “even if we start today,” but he added that could coincide perfectly with a growing of that market by shippers and the commission.

And at the end of the day, it could give the “California Avocado” brand an additional way to differentiate itself in the marketplace.

Sakata Seed America has introduced three new varieties of Eastern Bell Peppers expected to please growers and consumers alike. The three players – Gridiron, Blitz and Touchdown have been specifically bred to thrive in Eastern regions, and are sure to be a top draft pick.

Always striving for innovation, Sakata’s team of experts and analysts have been hard at work creating a line of bell peppers for the East with outstanding yield, adaptability, disease resistance, shelf life and flavor, and are proud to present their winning line-up. “From a development perspective, emphasis is placed on features and benefits for the complete customer chain, from growers to the final customer,” states Bryan Zingel, Senior Product Development Manager for peppers. Grower friendly, the bells deliver improved returns and satisfied customers.

Italy: Strawberry cultivation in Europe – current varieties and new selections

A technical meeting was held on the importance of strawberry cultivation in Europe and on new interesting varieties for the domestic and European market on 18th June 2013 at the CReSo (Centro Ricerche per la Frutticoltura) located in Boves (Piedmont).

The event was organised by Cristiano Carli and Roberto Giordano, research managers from Creso. Roberto Giordano and Dr. Walther Faedi from Folrì’s CRA-FRF have talked about the strong and weak points of each of the varieties that are cultivated and available on the market.

Walther Faedi, national coordinator of the ‘Liste varietali dei Fruttiferi’ project, listed the main characteristics and tendencies in the main countries that produce strawberries i.e. Turkey, Spain, Poland, Germany, Italy, England, Holland and Netherlands.

Some of the data:

TURKEY

Increase of cultivated surfaces but there are a few problems as regards distribution because of the difficulties in transportation. The production period is very long, from December to June.

SPAIN

Decrease in surface areas but increase of production. Long production period, from December to June. Camarosa is the most popular variety even though Candonga is also gaining a following thanks to its organoleptic qualities.

POLAND

The technique is being specialised and competitive producer cooperatives are being created. The production is mainly destined to the fresh market, leaving only a small part to the industry. Labour costs are really low: 2.5/h.

GERMANY

Open field crops are the most popular. Expanded in the past few years, pressurising markets and lowering prices. Strong competitor for Italy. Elsanta and Clery are the main varieties. Remontat cultivars are increasing.

ITALY

In 2012, there were 3700 hectares of strawberry crops (-20% with respect to 2000), 40% of which in the North (Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Trentino and Piedmont). The Italian production can satisfy the demand coming from the domestic market the whole year round. Produce from Sicily and Calabria arrives on the markets from January to March, that from Campania and Basilicata from April/May and overlaps with that from the North (Verona and Emilia Romagna. Summer is covered by the mountain areas and Sicily covers late autumn.

Dr. Faedi then explained the new varieties in the different Italian regions: “In the South, a number of different varieties is being evaluated, such as for example Rania, Nabila, Pircinque and Kamila from Italy, Sabrina, Fuentepina, Antilla and Primoris from Spain and Splendor, Florida-Fortuna, Mojave and Benicia from America. In the North, Italian Cristina, Romina, Garda, Alina, Dely and Joly are being considered.”

Finally, DR. Faedi analysed some varieties more in detail, such as VR177.2, as the fruit represent a good compromise between weight, compactness, Brix level (sugar content), aroma and shelf-life.

Dr. Roberto Lombardo also talked about the varieties and the selections currently being experimented at the CreSo. Primy (medium-early), Garda (medium-early), Joly (medium-late) and Laetitia (late) were the varieties included in the extensive experimentation under the 2013 Fragola Unifera programme.

Dr. Lombardo explained how, “Garda has a good productivity, the fruit is cuneiform, with a good weight, the flesh is compact and tastes good, it is important though to verify the colour. Primy has a good productivity, with a good weight; fruits are conical with a flat tip and the colour is deep red, which must be checked with high temperatures; the taste is balanced though the resistance of fruits to handling has to be analysed. Joly has an excellent sweet and aromatic taste, the colour is bright red, which turns to deep red with high temperatures, the flesh is quite compact, the productivity is average and it is easily detachable. Laetitia is conical, with good weight, it resists to handling, the colour is bright red and the taste is good and sweet.”

Once the presentation was over, it was possible to taste the different varieties of strawberries, both those registered and those experimented.

Following last week’s recall of fresh Serrano chile peppers by Bailey Farms Inc., Giant Food Stores LLC and Martin’s Food Markets announced that they removed from sale Serrano, Anaheim, Red Cherry Hot and Finger Hot peppers sold in a variety case due to potential Salmonella contamination.

The following product is included in this recall: Serrano, Anaheim, Red Cherry Hot and Finger Hot Peppers, PLU 4691, purchased on or after Oct. 9, 2014. The stores have not received any reports of illnesses to date.

Martin’s Food Markets and Giant Food Stores operate in Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Both retail chains are owned by Netherlands-based Ahold.

Customers who have purchased the product should discard any unused portions and bring their purchase receipt to Giant/Martin’s for a full refund.

Consumers looking for additional information on the recall may call Bailey Farms at 888-820-2545. In addition, customers may call Giant/Martin’s customer service at 1-888-814-4268 for more information. Customers can also visit the store websites at www.giantfoodstores.com or www.martinsfoods.com.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause Salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.

The most common manifestations of Salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may include chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

The apple market in British Columbia is strong and fruit quality is excellent. The crop saw an increase in volume compared to last year and the lower value of the Canadian dollar is keeping the price of apples high. “Returns have improved in the last year,” states James Hanna of Hanna & Hanna Orchards, “It’s an improving trend for the fruit industry. The lower Canadian Dollar increases the amount of exports and because all wholesale fruits sales are made in USD, the returns to Canadian growers are higher.”

There is a 25% increase in apples at Hanna & Hanna Orchards, but it is more a function on fruit size. “We have the same number of individual apples but they are 25% larger.” Prices are still strong in the market and at retail which bodes well for growers. “There have been five or six years of below average harvests, so a strong yield and good returns are more than welcome this year.”

Apples sold in Canada have a price determined by what happens in the world market; therefore domestic sales are priced comparable to export sales. “It’s a very competitive business. Washington generates the apple price.” But British Columbia’s distinguishing factor is in growing varieties of apples Washington cannot. “Mcintosh apples for instance grow best 100 miles north of the border. Ambrosia is another apple discovered in British Columbia and has found great flavor in the market,” reflects Hanna, “Honey Crisp is another variety that the further north you are, the better it grows. The Honey Crisp is a grower friendly apple return-wise, allowing Washington growers to modify the climate in their orchards with sprinklers and shade cloth, the cost of which can be built into the price of the apple and still come out ahead.”

Hanna and Hanna Orchards grow over forty different varieties of apples. Most of the unusual varieties are sold in their market. The greatest volume is sold through British Columbia True Fruits. While growing different varieties does help, growers are always on the lookout for newer, better varieties. Honey Crisp and Ambrosia are currently the bright spots in the apple industry as the growers raising these varieties are doing well. “Twenty or thirty years ago, Gala was the upcoming variety that growers were getting behind. But now it’s a commodity while unusual varieties draw a premium.”

The apple market is always in a state of flux, the British Columbia apple industry has shrunk significantly by being only 30-40% of what is was 30 years ago due to unprofitability. “The most successful growers are able to change fast and go with the market,” explains Hanna, “You have to get into the market when it’s hot. Those that chose not to weather the storm have switched to growing grapes or a different crop; others have been forced to sell their farm.”

Hanna remains optimistic about the future of the British Columbia apple industry. “We’re very responsible with our crop production and our environment.” By using SIR or the sterile insect release growers have been able to eliminate the coddling moth, a significant pest and change the way they grow their crops. “It’s never been safer for consumers,” reflects Hanna, “British Columbia growers are responsible for the best apples in the world. They’re too modest or shy to say it, but you don’t have to worry when eating a British Columbia apple.”

A still unnamed apple variety, which ripens two weeks before the Gala and is fairly resistant to scab, is currently being tested by the French nursery Escande. Benoit Escande, owner of the company, explains that “it is a very sweet, firm and crunchy apple and has a very similar look to the Gala; the only drawback is that it is a summer apple that can only be stored for up to three months.”

This was one of the firm’s many varieties showcased at the recent edition of MacFrut, where other, more established apples were also displayed. “We also have a very shiny Red Delicious called KING®ROAT, which is mostly shipped to Eastern Europe and the Arabic market.”

As for the yellow varieties, Escande focuses mostly in the organic or residue free market “because there is no room in the conventional market for more yellow varieties, Golden Delicious with PARSI® stay the best” affirms Benoit. “The most interesting one in our entire range, whether organic or conventional, is the PIXIE®, which is a sister of the Crimson Crisp, but ripens two weeks earlier, has more aroma and is less susceptible to Rosy apple aphid.”

The range also includes red flesh apples developed in collaboration with the KIKU company, which will be marketed under the label Red Moon Surprise. “At the moment there is big interest for these apples from processors; it has a completely different taste and children really like them. The first 8 commercial hectares will be planted this winter.”

Another variety which, according to Benoit, has potential to work really well is a very early Fuji called FUJIYAMA. “This one has a very good balance between acidity and sugar and it requires weather conditions where it can acquire its colour, such as the north or the mountainous regions.”

Fujirama

When looking for new varieties, Escande pays attention to five points: productivity (regularity and large volumes), low cost of production, resistance to diseases, ease to work with in packaging houses and shelf life, “and of course, it needs to taste good! Consumer satisfaction is always the most important aspect.”

In addition its many innovations, Escande also has a range of established varieties, including the club apple Juliet. “The Juliet can only be grown as organic and it is only grown in France. This allows you to ship the fruit worldwide, to destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, the Middle East, Brazil and Canada, among others.”

“Our strategy is to collaborate with good partners, because as we say in France, one good player can score a goal, but a good team wins the match,” concludes Benoit.

A still unnamed apple variety, which ripens two weeks before the Gala and is fairly resistant to scab, is currently being tested by the French nursery Escande. Benoit Escande, owner of the company, explains that “it is a very sweet, firm and crunchy apple and has a very similar look to the Gala; the only drawback is that it is a summer apple that can only be stored for up to three months.”

This was one of the firm’s many varieties showcased at the recent edition of MacFrut, where other, more established apples were also displayed. “We also have a very shiny Red Delicious called KING®ROAT, which is mostly shipped to Eastern Europe and the Arabic market.”

As for the yellow varieties, Escande focuses mostly in the organic or residue free market “because there is no room in the conventional market for more yellow varieties, Golden Delicious with PARSI® stay the best” affirms Benoit. “The most interesting one in our entire range, whether organic or conventional, is the PIXIE®, which is a sister of the Crimson Crisp, but ripens two weeks earlier, has more aroma and is less susceptible to Rosy apple aphid.”

The range also includes red flesh apples developed in collaboration with the KIKU company, which will be marketed under the label Red Moon Surprise. “At the moment there is big interest for these apples from processors; it has a completely different taste and children really like them. The first 8 commercial hectares will be planted this winter.”

Another variety which, according to Benoit, has potential to work really well is a very early Fuji called FUJIYAMA. “This one has a very good balance between acidity and sugar and it requires weather conditions where it can acquire its colour, such as the north or the mountainous regions.”

Fujirama

When looking for new varieties, Escande pays attention to five points: productivity (regularity and large volumes), low cost of production, resistance to diseases, ease to work with in packaging houses and shelf life, “and of course, it needs to taste good! Consumer satisfaction is always the most important aspect.”

In addition its many innovations, Escande also has a range of established varieties, including the club apple Juliet. “The Juliet can only be grown as organic and it is only grown in France. This allows you to ship the fruit worldwide, to destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, the Middle East, Brazil and Canada, among others.”

“Our strategy is to collaborate with good partners, because as we say in France, one good player can score a goal, but a good team wins the match,” concludes Benoit.

Some 60 different “unique and proprietary” varieties of potatoes shared the limelight at an Aug. 13 open house at .Sunrain Varieties LLC in Idaho Falls, ID.

The company, which was formed about six years ago as a partnership of Potandon Produce LLC in Idaho Falls and Toronto-based Earth Fresh, specializes in development of potato varieties of all sorts and the production of potato seed.

Photo 02 Mel Davenport, president of Sunrain and co-COO of Potandon, and Aaron Derbidge, Sunrain business manager, at the Aug. 13 Sunrain open house.Sunrain was initially “a holding company for varieties that Potandon and Earth Fresh in Canada were both using jointly across North America,” said Mel Davenport, president of Sunrain and co-chief executive officer of Potandon. “We formed the company to do our seed production and hold all our varieties and also do grower seed for our production farms. Then, as we got through that process, we decided to expand it some, and we have changed the company’s structure a little bit. The company now does the same function for anybody on the outside, too.”

Sunrain is “the holder of all the license rights” of potato varieties of all types “that we have brought from all over the world,” Davenport said. “The real core focus of the business is to own proprietary varieties from around the planet” that constitute “the best varieties of potatoes” there are.

“We are trying to set up a structure that allows us to bring new potato varieties to the market that are healthy and that add new taste and characteristics to the consuming public,” Davenport continued. “We are trying to bring something new to the market and make the potato category exciting.”

The 60 or so varieties of potatoes displayed at the open house included potatoes of a wide range of sizes, shapes, types and colors, with names as varied and colorful as the potatoes themselves — everything from Blue Belle, Jelly and Huckleberry Gold to Potandon 79, Sunrain 12 and PORO2PG76-5. Most are for the fresh market, but chippers are also included in the mix.

Besides selecting and developing existing potato varieties brought from all parts of the world, Sunrain is now also involved in breeding new varieties.

It is a long process. Just bringing an existing variety into commercial seed production takes five years. Breeding new varieties takes twice as long to go from lab to commercial seed production.

“It is not a short-term payback by any means,” Davenport said.

“We are very proud of what we have done here,” he said. “It is a good start, but we have a long way to go. We expect to do better and better at what we are doing. We are trying to get better at it every day.”

Sunrain has “a wonderful staff of people here managing the business,” he said.

The company purchased the farm on which its breeding and seed development facilities are located just over two years ago. The main building has been open a little over a year. In addition, “we’ve got six greenhouses,” a screen house and a storage facility, Davenport said. “It is all strictly dedicated to potato multiplication and to making the potato industry getter.”

Unlike university potato breeding programs, “we are going to be looking at everything from a market perspective,” being “more directly involved in the market than the people n the university system,” he said.

Also unlike most other potato breeding programs, “we are looking at potatoes from all over. We have brought potato varieties to North America from every continent except Africa and Antarctica, so it is a much bigger diversification” than other programs. “Hopefully over time it will allow us to open up new consumer avenues to the potato market.”

Sunrain is “trying to bring things to the consumer that aren’t available today” and to get consumers “excited about potatoes,” he said. “Consumption of potatoes is going down per capita, and we would like to see it turned the other way.”

The two fresh produce companies, Colors and AMC have ended their dispute about the Sheehan table grape varieties and say they are ready to cooperate commercially and in table grape breeding in future.

The two companies announced in Cape Town that they have decided to end the dispute in the best interest of the development of the Sheehan varieties in South Africa, as well as in the best interest of producers who have already invested in plantings of the new varieties.

A new joint venture company, SNFL-Colors, with each company holding 50% of the shares, will in future be responsible for managing the development of the varieties in South Africa. The agreement comes after months of court actions in which the two companies contested the ownership of the varieties in the country. This made the cultivars with the names Allison, Melody, Krissy, Melanie and Magenta household names in the South African table grape industry.

Riaan van Wyk, CEO of Colors, says he is pleased that the development of these unique table grape varieties can now proceed. “We believe they will make a huge contribution to efforts of growers to offer the world the best table grapes available.”

“We believe that our new cooperation agreement is in the best interest of the South African table grape industry,” says Alvaro Munoz, CEO of AMC. “Growers can now go ahead and invest with confidence in these varieties.”

The joint statement says the details of the joint venture will be worked out during the next two weeks. “This will include the projected plantings for each of the five cultivars and the marketing strategies which will be employed. More details will be announced soon.”

The JV has in principle agreed that Colors and AMC Fruit SA will initially be the authorized distributors or marketers of the Sheehan varieties. “Growers will be free to choose which one of the two companies they would use to market their grapes”.

They have also confirmed that their cooperation in breeding new table grape cultivars which was started back in 2006 would continue and be expanded. “We will do so under the auspices of our joint cultivar breeding company, VITIS. We will certainly expand this breeding program, breeding for unique new table grape varieties, which will be in demand in world markets.”

The statement says that both companies want to resume the strong relationships they had in the past. “We are resuming our commercial cooperation,” says Riaan van Wyk and Alvaro Munoz, emphasizing that the AMC subsidiary, MMUK and Colors has worked together since 1998 and has assisted each other to build their companies and reputation on table grapes and citrus.

More than 200 hectares of the new Sheehan varieties have already been planted in South Africa and a further 250 will be planted this year. This will bring total plantings to 450 hectares, which in five years’ time are expected to deliver some 2.5 million cartons of these varieties into the world’s markets.

Sunrain Varieties LLC, a producer of fresh potato seed, recently purchased a 1,600-acre farm located in the Victor-Driggs, ID, area.

“This acreage will be used primarily for early generation seed production and we look forward to a great fall harvest,” Aron Derbidge, business manager at Sunrain, said in a press release.

The company also plans construction of a world-class storage and grading facility on the property.

“With on-site sorting and sizing, Sunrain will be able to offer the trade pre-sized seed lots,” Derbidge said in the release. “Sunrain is continually striving to help our customers save time and money in the planting process so this addition makes good sense.”

Sunrain will be holding a new product showcase and open house Aug. 13 at its Idaho facility. Contact Rainey Carraballo at rcarraballo@potandon.com for more information or a facility tour.

Sunrain Varieties LLC, a producer of fresh potato seed, recently purchased a 1,600-acre farm located in the Victor-Driggs, ID, area.

“This acreage will be used primarily for early generation seed production and we look forward to a great fall harvest,” Aron Derbidge, business manager at Sunrain, said in a press release.

The company also plans construction of a world-class storage and grading facility on the property.

“With on-site sorting and sizing, Sunrain will be able to offer the trade pre-sized seed lots,” Derbidge said in the release. “Sunrain is continually striving to help our customers save time and money in the planting process so this addition makes good sense.”

Sunrain will be holding a new product showcase and open house Aug. 13 at its Idaho facility. Contact Rainey Carraballo at rcarraballo@potandon.com for more information or a facility tour.

Sunrain Varieties LLC, known for its innovation, expertise and dedication to fresh potato seed development, has just completed a series of capital improvements in its Idaho Falls-based facilities.

Two additional greenhouses were added to the Idaho Falls complex, in addition to a 25,000-hundredweight storage unit, which will enable Sunrain to increase mini tuber production by nearly 40 percent. Additional office space and on-site testing equipment were also added during the upgrade. The on-site test farm was upgraded by adding a state-of-the-art irrigation system to the 140-acre plot.

The Idaho Falls facility is the crown jewel in a nationwide trial program that now spans 12 different states. By growing their own tissue cultures, plantlets and mini tubers in highly controlled environments, the team of field agronomists can be certain that they are bringing the very best product to market.

Sunrain will be holding a new product showcase and open house Aug 13. Contact Rainey Carraballo for more information or to schedule a facility tour.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please contact Rainey Carraballo at 208/552-3096 ext. 1007 or e-mail rcarraballo@sunrainvarieties.com.

Sunrain Varieties LLC, known for its innovation, expertise and dedication to fresh potato seed development, has just completed a series of capital improvements in its Idaho Falls-based facilities.

Two additional greenhouses were added to the Idaho Falls complex, in addition to a 25,000-hundredweight storage unit, which will enable Sunrain to increase mini tuber production by nearly 40 percent. Additional office space and on-site testing equipment were also added during the upgrade. The on-site test farm was upgraded by adding a state-of-the-art irrigation system to the 140-acre plot.

The Idaho Falls facility is the crown jewel in a nationwide trial program that now spans 12 different states. By growing their own tissue cultures, plantlets and mini tubers in highly controlled environments, the team of field agronomists can be certain that they are bringing the very best product to market.

Sunrain will be holding a new product showcase and open house Aug 13. Contact Rainey Carraballo for more information or to schedule a facility tour.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please contact Rainey Carraballo at 208/552-3096 ext. 1007 or e-mail rcarraballo@sunrainvarieties.com.

Sunrain Varieties LLC, known for its innovation, expertise and dedication to fresh potato seed development, has just completed a series of capital improvements in its Idaho Falls-based facilities.

Two additional greenhouses were added to the Idaho Falls complex, in addition to a 25,000-hundredweight storage unit, which will enable Sunrain to increase mini tuber production by nearly 40 percent. Additional office space and on-site testing equipment were also added during the upgrade. The on-site test farm was upgraded by adding a state-of-the-art irrigation system to the 140-acre plot.

The Idaho Falls facility is the crown jewel in a nationwide trial program that now spans 12 different states. By growing their own tissue cultures, plantlets and mini tubers in highly controlled environments, the team of field agronomists can be certain that they are bringing the very best product to market.

Sunrain will be holding a new product showcase and open house Aug 13. Contact Rainey Carraballo for more information or to schedule a facility tour.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please contact Rainey Carraballo at 208/552-3096 ext. 1007 or e-mail rcarraballo@sunrainvarieties.com.